PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD FOR ROUTE 285 BRIDGE AT INTERSTATE 64 EXIT 91 INTERCHANGE

STAUNTON - The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a design public hearing concerning the Route 285 (Tinkling Spring Road) bridge at the Interstate 64 exit 91 interchange in Augusta County. The meeting will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2011, 4 - 7 p.m. at the Preston L. Yancey Volunteer Fire Department located at 2015 Jefferson Highway, Fishersville, VA 22939

Citizens can come in during the meeting hours and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to Mr. Scott Alexander, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA 24401-9029. Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter.

This project is located at the Interstate 64, exit 91 interchange, which is at Route 285 (Tinkling Spring Road) in Augusta County. Improvements from this project include work to the ramps and shoulder on Interstate 64 and widening the Route 285 bridge. The project limits on Route 285 extend from 0.70-mile north of I-64 to 0.43-mile south of I-64. Route 285 will have four lanes. Dual turn-lanes and dual receiving lanes will be provided at both I-64 on-ramps. Dual left-turn lanes will be built on Route 636 to accommodate traffic growth from the nearby hospital complex.

Due to the heavy traffic on Route 285 there will be some limitations on traffic movements at various entrances along the road to ensure smooth traffic operation along the roadway.

The Route 285 interchange with I-64 is currently experiencing traffic operational issues and has also been identified as a necessary improvement in the Route 285/608 Corridor Study (VDOT 1999), The Route 608 Corridor Study (Augusta County/Timmons 2000), and the Fishersville Small Area Plan. Existing operations show left-turning motorists from Route 285 to the I-64 westbound ramp cause back-ups into the Route 285 through lane and back to the I-64 eastbound ramps, resulting in operational problems at both ramps. The existing Route 285 bridge over I-64 is too narrow to allow construction of additional lanes to alleviate this problem.
Future growth in the area will further increase traffic volumes along Route 285, reducing levels of service and causing added congestion. This includes continued development around the Augusta Health hospital and campus and growth in the Fishersville area. Levels of service range from “A to F” with “A” having free-flowing traffic.

In 2034, traffic volumes are projected to be Level of Service “F” at Expo Road/Ladd Road, I-64 eastbound ramps, I-64 westbound ramps and Goose Creek Road during the morning and afternoon peak hours. Upgrading Route 285 to a four-lane facility through the study area will improve overall operations to acceptable levels of service and will reduce motorist delay.

The total estimated cost for this project is $43.3 million, including $4.1 million for preliminary engineering, $2.5 million for right of way and $36.7 million for construction.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.

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